0 Business and Personal Finance Unit 5 Chapter 16 © 2007 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.


Chapter 16Types of Business Ownership

What You’ll Learn Section 16.1

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of a sole proprietorship.

Explain the differences between general and limited partners.

Identify the advantages and disadvantages of a partnership.

Section 16.2 Describe two types of corporations. Summarize the process of forming a corporation. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a

corporation.


Business Ownership

Q: In a sole proprietorship, you get to keep all the profits for yourself. Why would I want to have all the hassles of setting up a corporation?

A: Each type of business structure offers advantages and disadvantages. The net income from a sole proprietorship is taxed at personal income tax rates, but a corporation’s profits are taxed at lower, corporate tax rates. However, a sole proprietorship is easier to set up, so you could be in business more quickly.

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2Business and Personal Finance Unit 5 Chapter 16 © 2007 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill


What might be an advantage of owning your own business? A disadvantage?


Main IdeaUnderstanding and selecting the proper form of organization for your business can be an essential factor in its success.

Section 16.1 Sole Proprietorship and Partnership



Business Ownership OrganizationUnderstanding how to handle your personal finances can help prepare you for managing your own business.

Business ownership can take one of three legal forms:

Sole proprietorship Partnership Corporation



Sole ProprietorshipThe sole proprietorship is the oldest and most common form of business ownership.

Most sole proprietorships are small-business operations, which generally operate out of:

Homes Small offices Storefronts

sole proprietorship

a business owned by one person



Advantages of Sole ProprietorshipOrganizing a business as a sole proprietorship has several advantages, including:

The freedom to make all the decisions Easy set-up Simple licensing and paperwork Few government regulations Full profits



Employees

If you intend to hire one or more employees to work in your business, you will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Many sole proprietors hire: Managers Several employees

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

a number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service and used for income tax purposes



Disadvantages of Sole ProprietorshipOrganizing your business as a sole proprietorship also has several drawbacks.

These include: Limited capital Unlimited liability Limited human resources Limited life

unlimited liability

a situation in which the owner of the business is responsible to pay the business debts out of personal assets

limited life

a situation in which a business’s life span or existence is determined by the owner’s life span or the owner’s decision to terminate the business



The PartnershipSome people choose to form a partnership when starting a business.

A partnership agreement will include the following basic information:

Names of the partners Name and nature of the business Amount of investment by each partner Duties, rights, and responsibilities of each

partner Procedures for sharing profits and losses

partnership

a business owned by two or more persons

partnership agreement

a written document that states how the partnership will be organized



General Partners and Limited PartnersWithin the category of partnerships, there are two basic types of partners:

General partners Limited partners

Every partnership has at least one general partner.

general partner

a business partner who has decision-making authority, takes an active role in the operation of the business, and has unlimited liability for all losses or debts of the partnership



Limited Partners

A partnership can also add limited partners.

A limited partner’s liability in the partnership is limited to the amount of his or her investment in the business.

limited partner

a business partner who does not take an active role in decision making or in running the business



Advantages of the PartnershipSome of the advantages of a partnership include:

Easy set-up More skills and knowledge Available capital Total control by partners Profits taxed once

Instead of being the only decision maker in a business, you will share decision making with your partners.


YOU ARE THE BOSS In a sole proprietorship, the owner makes all the decisions and takes all the responsibility. However, it is impossible for one person to be knowledgeable and skilled in all areas. What skills and knowledge might a sole proprietor owner lack?



Disadvantages of the PartnershipA partnership can avoid some of the problems associated with sole proprietorships, but it also has its disadvantages.

These include: Unlimited liability Possible disagreement among partners Shared profits Limited life Large financial risks


What might be an advantage of a corporation?


Main IdeaA typical form of business organization is the corporation, which is in operation all over the world.

Section 16.2 The Corporation



What Is a Corporation?A corporation is a form of business ownership that can:

Own property Buy and sell merchandise Pay bills Make contracts Sue and be sued in the court system

corporation

a business organization that operates as a legal entity that is separate from its owners and is treated by law as if it were an individual person



Starting a CorporationWhen you form a corporation, you create a legal entity. This process is more complex than starting a sole proprietorship or a partnership.



Paperwork and DocumentsTo create a corporation, you must:

File articles of incorporation Write a set of corporate bylaws

When the state approves the application, it issues a corporate charter, which:

States the purpose of the business Spells out the laws and guidelines under

which the business will operate

articles of incorporation

the application to operate as a corporation

corporate bylaws

the rules by which a corporation will operate

corporate charter

a license to operate a corporation



Issuing StockThe ownership of a corporation is divided into units, which are shares of stock.

If you buy even one share of stock in a corporation:

You are legally an owner of the company. You have all the rights of ownership.



Closely Held Corporations

A closely held, or private, corporation, is one whose shares are owned by a relatively small group of people.

The shares are not traded openly in stock markets.



Publicly Held Corporations

A publicly held corporation is one that sells its shares openly in stock markets, where anyone can buy them.

Most of these corporations trade their stock on an exchange, such as:

The New York Stock Exchange The American Stock Exchange



Going Public

A closely held corporation can be opened to the general public if the stockholders decide in favor of this move.

When a corporation decides to sell its stock on the open market, the decision is known as going public.



Advantages of the CorporationEstablishing your business as a corporation has a number of advantages over a sole proprietorship and a partnership, including:

Ability to raise capital Limited liability Continued life Separation of ownership and

management



Ability to Raise CapitalA major advantage of a corporation is the ability to sell its stock and generate capital, or money.

The company can sell additional shares of stock to raise the necessary funds for:

Growth Expansion Other purposes



Limited LiabilityIf the corporation has debts or financial problems, the owners may lose only the amount of their investment—the price they paid for their stock.

Unlike a sole proprietorship or a general partnership, a corporation leaves your personal assets protected.



Continued LifeIn a corporation, a change of owners does not end the legal operation of the business.

Stockholders may enter or leave at any time without affecting the existence of the corporation.



Separation of Ownership and ManagementRather than running the business, most owners of publicly held corporations elect a board of directors.

Day-to-day decisions in running the business are handled by:

Corporate officers Professional managers

board of directors

a group of individuals who are responsible for overseeing the general affairs of the corporation



Disadvantages of a CorporationThough the corporate form of ownership has a number of advantages, it also has several disadvantages. These are:

Complex and expensive set-up Slow decision-making process Taxes



Complex and Expensive Set-UpA great deal of work is required to create a corporation. You must:

Complete many forms. File reports. Adhere to many laws and guidelines.

Forming a corporation costs a large amount of money.



Slow Decision-Making ProcessA major disadvantage of the corporation is the slowness of the decision-making process.

Before decisions can be made in a corporation, many different people:

Study the issues Discuss and debate them


Shop by PhoneInstead of driving from store to store, use your telephone to see if a store has the item that you want and compare prices. You will save gas and time. Also, use the Internet to see if the store sells merchandise online.What type of business ownership might an e-tail store have? What would be the advantage of this type of ownership for the store?

Business and Personal Finance Unit 5 Chapter 16 © 2007 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill



TaxesAnother major disadvantage of a corporation concerns taxes.

Because a corporation is a separate legal entity, it must pay state and federal income taxes on its profits.

Dividends that stockholders receive are then taxed again.



Limited Liability CompanyA limited liability company combines some advantages of both the partnership and the corporation. In an LLC:

The liability of the owners is limited to their investments.

The profits are taxed only once.

This form of business is intended for smaller businesses.

limited liability company (LLC)

a business that operates and pays taxes as a partnership but has limited liability for the owners



FranchiseA franchise is not a form of business ownership. To start a franchise, you must:

Organize your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC.

Purchase a franchise from a corporation.

Your franchise is an asset of your business.

franchise

a contractual agreement to sell a company’s products or services in a designated geographic area



Choosing the Form of OwnershipYou must carefully consider the advantages and disadvantages of each form of ownership.

Then you can decide which one is best for your: Particular business Personal needs



Key Term Review sole proprietorship Employer Identification Number (EIN) unlimited liability limited life partnership partnership agreement general partner limited partner corporation articles of incorporation

corporate bylaws corporate charter board of directors limited liability company (LLC) franchise



Reviewing Key Concepts1. Explain why most new businesses begin as sole

proprietorships.

Organizing a business as a sole proprietorship has several

advantages, including: The freedom to make all the decisions Easy set-up Simple licensing and paperwork Few government regulations Full profits



Reviewing Key Concepts2. Describe the roles of general and limited partners in a

business.

In partnerships, general partners: Have decision-making authority Are active in the business Have unlimited liability

Limited partners rarely take an active role in the business, and

their liability is limited to their investment.



Reviewing Key Concepts3. Discuss the advantages of starting a business as a

partnership versus a sole proprietorship.

Some of the advantages of a partnership include: Easy set-up More skills and knowledge Available capital Total control by partners Profits taxed once



Reviewing Key Concepts4. Identify the advantages and disadvantages of a closely held

versus publicly held corporation.

A publicly held corporation is one that sells its shares openly in

stock markets, where anyone can buy them.

A closely held, or private, corporation, is one whose shares are

owned by a relatively small group of people.



Reviewing Key Concepts5. List the contents of articles of incorporation.

The articles of corporation include information such as: The corporate name The type of business in which the corporation will be

involved



Reviewing Key Concepts6. Explain why current stockholders might oppose a

corporation’s decision to issue more stock.

A corporation’s decision to issue more stock might reduce the

percentage of profits current stockholders will receive.


Newsclip: The New EntrepreneurshipThere are more entrepreneurs today than there were 20

years ago.

Log On Go to finance07.glencoe.com and open Chapter 16.

Learn more about what steps you need to take to build your own

enterprise. Write a few sentences about what kind of business

you would like to run.

0 Business and Personal Finance Unit 5 Chapter 16 © 2007 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.

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Transcript of 0 Business and Personal Finance Unit 5 Chapter 16 © 2007 Glencoe/McGraw-Hill.